Crestone Peak is charting its own course in how it works with local governments to develop the oil and natural gas resources that underlie the rapidly expanding suburban communities along Colorado’s Front Range.

A privately held company, Crestone Peak holds about 51,000 acres of mineral leases it acquired from Encana in 2016 for $900 million. Like other companies working to develop new oil and gas resources along the heavily populated Front Range, Crestone Peak faces challenges and roadblocks not encountered elsewhere, either in Colorado or the rest of the US.

“Once we establish our legal authority to operate, we do everything we can to be the environmentally responsible operator,” said Jason Oates, director of external affairs. “Our approach is to maintain an ongoing dialogue with the community.”

From Boulder County to Longmont and Lafayette, Crestone Peak faces continuous challenges, both legal and on social media, as it works to move projects from the geologists mind to a producing site.